Men heading to prison after trying to buy, sell cocaine

Two Central Florida men are heading to prison after trying to buy and sell more than 5 kilograms of cocaine.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Brevard County Sheriff's Office started monitoring communication between Maurice Evans, 44, of Orlando and James Marvin Lovett, 43, of Cocoa on Jan. 29.

That's when the agencies learned about their contact with a cocaine supplier, Department of Justice spokesman William Daniels said in a statement.

Lovett made several trips to the cocaine supplier and was arrested Feb. 13.

Agents found 3 kilograms of the white substance in his car.

Shortly after Lovett's arrest, Evans called the source to tell them to drop their phones, but agents were listening in on that call and arrested Evans after finding a cocaine-reprocessing operation, including a hydraulic press, press plates, aluminum molds, packaging material, scales, cut material, mixing utensils and the drug.

Both men pleaded guilty June 24 to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine.

On Thursday, Evans was sentenced to 11 years and eight months and Lovett was sentenced to 12 years and seven months.